40b Bad Guy Build

[Ghidellas]

So I recently set up a new 40 gallon tank and took a bunch of pics along the way so figured I might as well start a build thread. My girlfriend is always picking out fish at the LFS that we can't put in our other tank so she brought up the idea of a new tank for predator fish. Who am I to turn that down??? On top of that she wants to put it in the bedroom so we can see it from laying in bed.... I'm down for that!!

Picked up a 40b off craigslist brand new for a steel. Also came with a brand new 20 high I planned on using for the sump. So after picking that up went online and started the equipment purchases. Here's what I started with so far:

Glass Holes 700gph overflow
Danner Mag7
Current USA marine orbit LED 36"(later changed to kessil 360we)
SCA 301 protein skimmer
TLF 150 reactor
Aqueon 1700 (to power reactor and future UV)
Aqua Auto Smart ATO
Apex Lite w/lab grade Ph & VDM module
Jebao DP-4 dosing pump
Jebao wp25

 

[Ghidellas]

Here's where it's at as of today. My view from bed!

 

[Ghidellas]

Getting ready to drill the holes for overflow and returns.. very nervous to drill glass never done it before and don't want to ruin this brand new tank

 

[Ghidellas]

Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Watched a few videos on YouTube and once my confidencewas up I went for it. Just takes forever and have to go extremely slow while keeping the water dripping on it the entire time

 

[Ghidellas]

Painted the back blue. I really wished I did this on my other tank so i was excited for this part. Took 4 coats I used a hair dryer between coats to speed things up.

 

[Ghidellas]

Installed the overflow box and returns. Started the plumbing using all flex tubing lines

 

[Ghidellas]

Dry fitting on the stand. Girlfriend is still working on the paint and stencil on the doors. She end up doing 3 colors and then hand sanding to have a rustic look with the colors underneath coming thru. Turned out really cool I love it

 

[Ghidellas]

Custom made my sump from the 20H that came with my tank.

Skimmer section to the left. Thru baffles into the fuge section. Another baffle with a little shelf I put in out of egg crate to hold some media bags or floss or whatever I want. Then into the return section.

 

[jadwv2210]

Looks awesome so far. Be careful with those egg crate platforms and mesh media bags. I used to use those and one of them got ripped by the sharp edges of the egg crate and carbon went all over in my tank. Never did get all of it out.

 

[Ghidellas]

Got 40 lbs of Carib sea base rock in and started messing around with auqascape. .

 

[Ghidellas]

Looks awesome so far. Be careful with those egg crate platforms and mesh media bags. I used to use those and one of them got ripped by the sharp edges of the egg crate and carbon went all over in my tank. Never did get all of it out.

Thanks for heads up on that! I just have a sponge in there now I have my carbon in the reactor.

 

[Brian Kim]

Looking awesome!

 

[Ghidellas]

Placed the sump in to give everything a wet trial and check for leaks. All looked good! Ended up moving the switch board as I thought more about the electrical layout and the installation of the apex

 

[Ghidellas]

Looking awesome!

Thank you very much!

 

[Ghidellas]

Brought it inside and started setting everything up. Finished up some plumbing. Started running some wires inside cabinet. Still getting it just right I hate having wires everywhere it drives me nuts

 

[Ghidellas]

Will post more today.. takes forever to upload pics from my phone for some reason

 

[cfhsoccerplayer]

So here I am scrolling through threads and I see this tank that looks very familiar. Then I realize it is the one I sold on Craigslist. Ha, glad to see you got it going and it's looking great!

 

[Ghidellas]

So here I am scrolling through threads and I see this tank that looks very familiar. Then I realize it is the one I sold on Craigslist. Ha, glad to see you got it going and it's looking great!

Ha thanks man. I was going to send you a pic once I get it stocked up!

 

[TUSI]

Wow love everything. Great job

 

[Ghidellas]

Wow love everything. Great job

Thank you!